Hayfield promises to be the best commercial fishery in the UKBy Angling Times

Fishery News

23 February 2010 12:08

“I’m going to turn Hayfield Lakes into the country’s ultimate fishery.” That’s the promise of former Fish O’Mania champion Rob Hitchens, who has just taken over the lease at the popular Doncaster complex and has high hopes of it once again staging the final of the £25,000 televised winner-takes-all event.

Rob plans to leave no stone unturned in his quest to transform Hayfield into a ‘match angler’s paradise’, including:

Building a new 60-peg lake stocked with F1 carpReducing the price of entry to open matches to encourage more anglersCreating four separate lakes by splitting up existing water Adams LakeSecuring venue sponsorship from major tackle manufacturer SproOpening up the on-site restaurant pub to anglers for the first time

Ironically, Rotherham angler Rob is now in charge of the very water which banned his infamous Wonder Paste after he became unbeatable in the matches there because of it. His first project is to dig a new rectangular lake with islands at a pole range of 13m-14m to ensure plenty of bites in the colder months.

“The current lakes are deep and the fish big, so the sport isn’t always good in winter – this will change, I can promise you that. Onceeverything is in place and settled down I want to look at the reasons Hayfield lost the Fish O’Mania final and what we can do to get it back.”

Rob recognises that visitors have had ‘issues’ with the running of the fishery in the past, and has a hit list of problems to tackle.

“I want to right the wrongs – and as an angler myself I can see it from both sides. I’m not going to make people cast over each other near the corners. I want to give clubs plenty of room so everybody has a good day’s fishing. It costs too much to enter a lot of today’s open matches, so the entry will be reduced to £15 – if anglers want to pay more there will be an optional pool on top,” said Rob.

I went saturday along with a few fellow members on here: sam the man,Barney,wrootwrob and jay p(captain pugwash )

I was the only person who had never been before and i must say how nice the place was

I had been told about the problems with people being told that they couldn't walk around to have a look So i asked Rob about this and he reply was along as people don't skyline people if there is a match and they respect the anglers fishing he has no problems

He was telling me about the plans for the pub which is going to be open to anglers and he wants to do what he can to be able for anyone to take there mrs/partner down for a meal so whilst they are looking at the menu you can always go and check out the fishong

Also has a campsite so a good place for a fishin having a pub/food and fishing onsite

I was lucky enough to snare 3 fish 1 a low double 1 about 7lb and 1 about 3-4lb And i can't wait to get back to have another go at it aswell

If ever anyone has met rob i'm sure they will tell you how approachable he is and if every he could help you he would He even went and got a rod out of his van for sam the man to use all set up and ready to go The only problem i had was never leave you marshmellows on your side tray as at 1 point Rob came and had ago and turned to me and said" you know the best thing to do with these marshmellows ?? No" i replied. To then see him putting a handfull in his mouth LMFAO JUST WANT TO WISH ROB,ANNE AND STEVE GOOD LUCK FOR THE FUTURE IN THERE VENTURE

IVE had a good chat with Rob Hitchens and he has asked me to stick this on for him , just to clarify a few things about yesterdays article in the A/T , where it states that he will be "Creating four separate lakes by splitting up existing water Adams Lake"

this has been misinterpreted and it it not what Rob had said , he has contacted the A/T to put this right but wants you all to know what the situation really is .he is going to fill the gap between big adams and little adams under the bridge to make the banks more suitable

what his plans are is to to take out any fish over 4lb from BIG ADAMS and spread them in to the other lakes and re stock with stocky carp to make the fisherie better,there are no plans to remove any fish or move any fish until the end of the year,but Rob plans to introduce plenty of fish during 2010

on another note , re match fees Rob plans to introduce a flat rate of £15 for the hayfileds opens with a added optional super pools if you want it , please note this is purely optional the £15 includes the pegging fee and the normal pools money